Vol. 556 No. 2
47 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when the supplementary welfare allowance payment to asylum seekers, under the direct provisions scheme, was last increased; her proposals for a further increase in this payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19504/02]
The income maintenance needs of asylum seekers are met for the most part through the supplementary welfare allowance, SWA, scheme administered by the health boards. The main objective of the scheme is to make up the difference between a person's means whether in cash or in kind and their needs. Where a person has access to some resources in kind or in cash, through the social welfare system or otherwise, the relevant legislation requires that this be taken into account in determining entitlement to supplementary welfare allowance.
This is the case with asylum seekers who arrived since 10 April 2000. They are provided with full board accommodation, including all meals and other services under the system of direct provision operated by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. In such cases, the recommended weekly allowance is €19.10 per adult and €9.60 per child to provide for personal requisites. Furthermore, exceptional needs payments are made by the health boards in cases where they are deemed to be appropriate.
A small number of asylum seekers are in receipt of other social welfare payments such as one-parent family payments, pensions and disability allowance. In addition, asylum seekers with children are entitled to child benefit.
A working group was established in April 2000 to examine the issues relating to assessment of need for supplementary welfare allowance purposes. Among the issues examined by the group are the existing arrangements for the payment of basic weekly supplementary welfare allowance to people who have means other than cash to partly meet their basic needs and the payment rate appropriate to asylum seekers in direct provision. The group's report is currently being examined in my Department and I hope to be in a position to address the issues raised in the near future.
